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P. C. HEWITT.

GBNTRIFUGAL MACHINE. l y No. 581,208. PatentedAp1f-2o, 1897."

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P. C. HEWITT. GENTRIPUGALv MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 20,7189?.

fNo. 581.208.

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4 Sheets-.Sheet 4. P. C. HEWITT GBNTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

ATTORNEYS.

Nrr'nn rnrns PETER COOPER HEVVITT, OF NEW YORK, vN. Y.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,208, dated April20, 1897.

Application filed April l2, 1895.

T0 'all whom t puny concern,.-

Beit known that I, PETER COOPER Hnwirr, of New York city, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved CentrifugalMachine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention is an improvement upon the centrifugal machine for whichapplication for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 535,128,was filed by me January 16, 1895; and the object of my present inventionis to adapt the machine to the separation of liquids and such solids andsemisolids as are discharged from the separatingbowl with difficulty;also for the separation of living organisms which have a differentdensity from the liquid they grow in, but have the power to remainsuspended in the liquid.

My invention consists in the combination, with the separating-bowl, ofWeirs for controlling the distribution of the liquid or mixture to beoperated upon.

It also consists in a peripheral discharge, a valve, and avalve-operating mechanism for controlling the discharge.

It also consists in the combination, with the bowl, of perforated hoopsand perforated annular plates placed within the bowl for checking thefree circulation of the material being operated upon, all as will behereinafter more fully described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specication, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a vertical transverse section of a centrifugal machineembodying my improvements. Fig. la is a similar view of aslightlyinodiiiedrform of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 1. 'Fig 3 is adetail sideelevation of the peripheral discharge-valve. Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken on line 4 I in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectiontaken on line 5 5 in 6. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken online 6 6 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7 7in Fig. 6.

The centrifugal machine Ato which my improvements have been appliedconsists of a bowl A? formed of a metal tube of small diameter andconsiderable height, attachedatits lower end to a shaft B, whichrevolves in a Serin No. 545,521. (No man.)

step O, and having at its upper end a tubular bearing D, running in avertically-adj ustable journal-box E. The shaft Bis provided with apulley F, which receives the belt for revolving the bowl A, and a tube Gpasses through the tubular bearing D into the bowl for feeding the bowlwith material to be separated. The solid ,head H,forming the lowerportion of the bowl, is provided with a ledge a, to which is secured theplate b, leaving a space c below the plate. In the space c are insertedradial wings c', which extend from the ledge a toward the center of thespace. In the plate b, adjoining the ledge a, are formed perforations clfor the discharge of the contents of the bowl as its speed is slackened.

To the annular top e of the solid head I-I is secured an annular platef, having a central opening g of smaller diameter than the opening ofthe stop m in the upper head and a series o'f perforations h adjoiningthe inner edge of the top of the head H. Above the annular plate f isplaced an annular plate t', which rests on distance-pieces j, standin gon the annular plate f. The central opening of the plate i is of thesame size as the opening g of the plate f, and the said annular plate z'has a discharge opening or openings at or near its periphery. Screws m,passing through the plate z', the distance-pieces j, and the plate f,enter the head H and clamp the several pieces mentioned in the positionof use. A central passage n extends from the space c to radialdischarge-passages o, formed in the head H.

In the upper end of the bowl A is secured a steel head I, which is boredaxially to receive the upper journal D and to form weirs 'p n', the stopm, and the intervening spaces op' q. The inner portion of the head I ismade smaller in diameter than the bowl A, leaving an annular space r',and radial passages S' are formed in the head I between the annularspace r and the space p' below the Weir n'. The passages s' are inclinedoutwardly from the space p' to the annular space r. The head I isprovided with two anges t fu. for the discharge of liquids of differentdensities emerging from the different passages of the head I. Radialpassages s s extend obliquely upward and open at the upper surface ofthe flange t. Passages w extend from the space q to the top of theheadI.

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In the bowl A are placed a number of perforated hoops L, which togetherform a tube. Each hoop L supports a perforated annular disk M, having aninternal diameter about equal to the diameter of the stop nl. or weir pand an external dialneter equivalent to the internal diameter of thebowl A.

On the upper disk M is placed a hoop LQ which in this case is larger indiameter than the others, thehoops L, as shown, being preferably smallerin diameter than the interior of the hollow liquid cylindercontained bythe bowl, while the hoop L' is larger in diameter than the interior ofthe hollow liquid cylinder, and therefore lies within the body of theliquid composing the cylinder. rl`he perforated hoops and disks preventthe liquid contained by the bowl from circulating and forming currentswithin itself.

In a screw-threaded perforation in the side of the bowl A, near the topthereof, are inserted the plugstof discharge-valves K. The portion ofthe plugt adjoining the outer surface of the bowl A is made tapering toreceive the eonically-bored ring u, which is held in place on thetapered portion of the plug by anut e en the threaded outer end of theplug, and a washer yuf placed between the ring u and nut r. As anadditional safeguard a pin is passed through the threaded end of theplug and through the nut. rlhe plugtl is bored axially to a pointopposite the center of the ring u, forminga passage y, andis boredtransversely, forming passages e, which communicate with the passage y.The ring a is bored transversely, forming passages c.' a, which at onepoint in the revolution of the ring eoincide with the passages ln thering u are inserted two studs Z1 (12, projecting radially, forming witheach other an angle of about ninety degrees.

Between ears c2, secured to the inner wall of the hood ll', is pivoted athree-armed lever J, having the arms cl' d2, which project above andbelow the pivot of the lever, the ends of the said arms being bent atright angles in the direction of the axis of the bowl A, and the saidlever J is placed in such relation to the ring 'u and studs b b2,carried thereby, as to be able to engage the studs when the lever istilted in the manner presently to be described. 'lo the shorter arm ofthe lever J, which is arranged at right angles to the longer arms, ispivoted one end of a rod e, the other end of which is pivoted to a leverL, fulerumed on a standard attached to a fixed part of the separator.

The operation of my improved centrifugal machine is as follows: The bowlA being in motion, the material to be acted upon is admitted to the bowlthrough the pipe G, and falling upon the plate D it partakes of themotion of the plate and is thrown by centrifugal force against the wallof the head H and is caused by the pressure thus created to rise throughthe apertures 71. of the plate f, and the pressure of the material inaradial direction in the space between the plates fz' causes it to moveoutwardly between the said plates, when it is thrown outwardly againstthe wall of the bowl A and is discharged upwardly through the spacebetween the annu lar plate and the wall of the bowl, or through theholes in the plate r1', near its periphery, when a series ofperforations is preferred to the annular space, at the saine speed ofrotation as that ofthe bowl. The material rises in the bowl A and theheavier or solid portions take a position adjoining the wall of thebowl, while the lighter liquid portions escape over the weirs p a intothe spaces o' orp, thence through the passages s fw', when it is thrownoff by the ilanges't and u/ and projeeted against the concave outerwall. of the hoods ll and ll?, the heavier portions going to the hoodlli2 and the lighter to the hood ll'.

As my improved form of centrifugal machine is especially adapted to thepurification of beer, when beer is treated in the machine the pureliquid is discharged in substantially the manner described over a singleweir p through the passages tu', finding its way to the hood ll2 andgutter M, whence it is removed by the pipe N. The yeast and otherimpurities conta-ined bythe beer accumulate along the wall of the bowland are disposed of periodicallyby opening thcdischarge-valve K. This isaccomplished by tilting the lever .l so as to throw the angled end ofthe arm d into the path of the stud U, thus causing the arm to engagethe stud and turn the ring u through a quarter of a revolution, therebycausing the passages a a' to coincide, allowing the heavy material lyingnext to the wall of the bowl to escape through the valve. By tilting thelever J in the opposite direction by means of the lever Li) the arm (l2of the lever J is thrown into the path of the stud b2, thus causing thering u to turn in the opposite direction,closing thedischarge-apertures.

The practical method of discharging the yeast is te stop the bowl,allowing the beer to discharge itself by gravity through the openings no, then to open the valve l( and revolve the bowl, and after thedischarge 0l' the yeast to close the said valve and proceed with theseparation.

l have hereinbefore referred to plates b and f, which act successivelyon the liquid to impart to it the requisite velocity. Said parts I terma startingdevice and a distributing device, respectively, on account oftheir particular functions, which I will now clearly define.

The starting device, that is, the plate I), in the construction shown,is a surface open to the liquid as first delivered to the machine, andwhich rotates with the bowl and is so arranged as to start theaction ofthe centrifugal force and thereby direct the liquid toward thedistributing device.

rlhe distributing.device (in the construction shown the plate f) is adevice or surface which will deliver the liquid coming IOO IIO

from the starting device to points intermediate of the center ofrotation and the wall of the bowl at approximately the velocity thatcorrespondsto the motion of the rigid parts of the bowl at the samedistance from the center. The office of the distributing devicetherefore is to so modify and control the flow of the liquid that saidliquid will travel at approximately the same speed as the surfaces withwhich it engages or on which it rests.

The bowl, the starting-plate apertured near its periphery and arrangedinthe bowl, and the feed -pipe discharging on the startingplate are notclaimed herein, the same being claimed in the hereinbefore-nientionedapplication.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, a bowl havingan outlet at its upper end, a starting device located at the bottoni ofthe bowl, and arranged to start the action of centrifugal force on theliquid, a feed-pipe discharging on said starting device, a distributingdevice located above said starting device, and having apertures orchannels at points intermediate of the wall of the bowl and the axis ofrotation to cause the liquid to move at said points at approximately thesame angular speed as the bowl, and an annular plate located above thedistributing device yet below the outlet of the bowl, said plate havingone or more peripheral discharge-passages adjacent to the wall of thebowl, substantially as described. v

2. A separating-bowl having a weir in its head for the discharge of thelighter portions of the contents of the bowl, and provided in its upperportion below said weir with a peripheral discharge-opening through thewall of the bowl, said discharge being arranged for the intermittentescape of the heavier Inaterial, and a valve for closing said peripheraldischarge entirely,substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, a bowl having an outlet at itsupper end, astartingplate located at the bottom of the bowl and arrangedto start the action of centrifugal force' on the liquid, a feed-pipedischarging centrally on said starting-plate, an annulardistributing-plate above said starting-plate, and having apertures orchannels at points intermediate of the wall of the bowl and the axis ofrotation to cause the liquid to move at said point-s at approximatelythe same angular speed as the bowl, and another annular plate arrangedabove the distributing-plate yet below the outlet of the bowl, saidplate having one or more peripheral discharge-passages adjacent to thewall of the bowl, substantially as described.

4. A centrifugal liquid-separator, comprising a rotatableseparating-bowl, provided with Vand a valve accessible from the outsideand held to rotate with the bowl, said valve being arranged to entirelyclose the aforesaid discharge-passage, substantially as specied.

5. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, the combination with the lowerhead provided with a starting-plate having a cavity below thestarting-plate, of one or more radial wings placed below thestarting-plate, substantially as specified.

6. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, the combination, with therotatable separatingbowl provided with a valve, said valve having a studor projection, of a relatively stationary operating device arranged onthe outside of the bowl and adapted to be projected into the path oftravel of the projection of the valve to operate the latter,substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, a bowl having an outlet at itsupper end, a central feed-pipe, a perforated cylindrical tubesurrounding said feed-pipe, and a starting-plate arranged below and at adistance from the lower end of said perforated tube and extendingoutwardly to a greater distance from the axis of rotation than theradius of said tube, so that the liquid delivered on said startingplateis carried to the outer surface of said tube substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, a rotatable separating-bowl havingan outlet at one end, a central feed-pipe, a perforated cylindrical tubesurrounding the feed-pipe, and perforated annular disks arrangedtransversely of the bowl and surrounding the said perforated pipe,substantially as described.

9. In a centrifugal liquid-separator, a bowl supported in bearings andhaving a contraction near its discharge end, a starting device at theopposite end of the bowl, a feed-pipe extending axially through one ofthe bearings, and arranged to discharge on said startingdevice,per1nanently-open discharge-passages at the contracted portion ofthe bowl, and valved discharge-passages between said contracted portionand the starting device, substantially as described.

10. In a centrifugal liquid-separator,arotatable separating-bowlprovided with a feed device, permanently-open discharge-passages at thetop of the bowl, and valved dischargepassages arranged in the upperportion of the bowl yet below said open discharge-passages, the valve insaid passages being normally closed, substantially as specied.

PETER COOPER HEVITT. 1Witnesses:

F. W. HANAFORD, C. SEDewIeK.

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